Jane Daniels gets state trail worker award

Jane Daniels of Mohegan Lake.

Jane Daniels of Mohegan Lake, a leader for the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference in the Yorktown Community Trails Project, has been honored as State Trail Worker of the Year in New York by American Trails, the national organization for advocacy and support of trails.

The State Trail Worker Awards recognize those who have demonstrated outstanding contributions and provided consistent support for trail planning, development, or maintenance. They recognize the commitment and efforts of private or public sector individuals working for enhanced trail recreation.

Daniels, in addition to being a member and volunteer of the Trail Conference since 1979, has been involved with trails from the local to regional and state level over the past three decades.

Her dedication to the trails community is evident in the many positions she's held, efforts she's organized, trail books she's authored or edited and most recently her leadership in the Yorktown Community Trails project.

Jane, along with her husband, Walt, is a longtime volunteer with the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference

The New York-New Jersey Trail Conference is a nonprofit organization that has partnered with parks to create, protect, and promote a network of more than 1,850 miles of public trails in the region. From 1989 to 2011, Daniels served as a member of the board of directors, as vice chair from 1999-2001, then chair from 2001-2007. She chaired several of their committees, including the Trails Council, from 2007-2011.

Edward Goodell, Trail Conference executive director, said, "Most of the public who enjoy our parks and trails don't realize how much they owe to volunteers like Jane Daniels. Her efforts have led directly to more and better trails, trail connections, and information about trails in our region's parks and communities. And Jane's enthusiasm and passion for trails and volunteerism have inspired countless other volunteers to get involved too. This honor from American Trails could not go to a more deserving trail blazer."

Daniels was the trail coordinator for the Greenway Conservancy for the Hudson River Valley during the early 1990s. There she interacted with government, local groups and private landowners to initiate development of the Hudson River Trail. She has continued as an active member on the Board of Directors since 1998 and as chair of the Trail Committee since 2001.

Daniels also served as a member of the Board of Managers for the Appalachian Trail Conference from 1993 to 1999 and again from 2005 to 2006. From 1983 to 1990, Daniels served as chair for the Putnam County Appalachian Trail Management Committee.

Daniels co-authored "Walkable Westchester" with her husband. The book describes the 600 miles of trails that are in 186 parks, preserves, sanctuaries, and protected open space. In addition, Daniels edited and managed production of the "New York Walk Book" and "New Jersey Walk Book," which are guides to 2,400 miles of hiking trails.

In February of 2010, Daniels and her husband approached the Yorktown Parks and Recreation Commission with a request to build a 12-mile trail system. The system would comprise existing parks, linear connections (Yorktown Trailway and an underground pipeline), and a pending town purchase of 200 acres of open space. The Recreation Commission approved development of 6 miles of trails to begin the project. In April, the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference approved the project.

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Jane Daniels gets state trail worker award

Jane Daniels of Mohegan Lake, a leader for the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference in the Yorktown Community Trails Project, has been honored as State Trail Worker of the Year in New York by

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